j coloproctol (rio j). 2 0 1 5;3 5(1):59–62
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Coloproctology
ase Report
ppendicitis caused by ingestion of metaloreign body
osé Inácio de Almeida Netoa,∗, Bruna Schawn Guerinib,elipe Fernandes Nogueira de Almeidab
General Surgery Service, Hospital de Clínicas Dr. Radamés Nardini, Mauá, SP, BrazilHospital de Clínicas Dr. Radamés Nardini, Mauá, SP, Brazil
r t i c l e i n f o
rticle history:
eceived 13 December 2013
ccepted 11 August 2014
vailable online 28 January 2015
eywords:
ppendicitis
oreign-body migration
ppendix
aparotomy
a b s t r a c t
Introduction: The ingestion of foreign bodies is a frequent occurrence, especially among chil-
dren. The majority of these objects travel safely through the gastrointestinal tract, without
causing symptoms or leaving sequelae. Acute appendicitis is the emergency surgical pathol-
ogy of greater prevalence. However, the impaction of a foreign body into the appendicular
lumen as an etiologic agent of appendicitis is a very rare event.
Case report: We describe the case of a 21-year-old male patient with lower abdominal pain
over approximately six days, in association with vomiting, fever and abdominal distension.
After imaging studies, a radiopaque foreign body was identified in a pelvic topography, with
distention and air-fluid levels in intestinal loops. Our patient was submitted to an open
appendectomy, evidencing acute perforated appendicitis and the presence of two foreign
bodies in its lumen. The patient progressed satisfactorily in the post-operative period, with
use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Discussion: Foreign bodies impacted in the gastrointestinal tract are usually removed by
endoscopic techniques. When these bodies cause infections, there should be a resolution,
preferably by surgical laparoscopy, which will serve both for diagnostic as therapeutic pur-
poses.
© 2015 Sociedade Brasileira de Coloproctologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All
rights reserved.
Apendicite provocada por ingesta de corpos estranhos metálicos
r e s u m o
alavras-chave:
pendicite
orpo estranho, migracão
pêndice
aparotomia
Introducão: A ingesta de corpos estranhos é um acontecimento frequente, principalmente
entre criancas. A maioria destes passa de forma inócua pelo trato gastrointestinal, sem
causar sintomas ou deixar sequelas. Apendicite aguda é a patologia cirúrgica emergencial
de maior prevalência.
∗ Corresponding author.E-mail: [email protected] (J.I. de Almeida Neto).
ttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcol.2014.08.014237-9363/© 2015 Sociedade Brasileira de Coloproctologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.
60 j coloproctol (rio j). 2 0 1 5;3 5(1):59–62
Contudo: a impactacão de um corpo estranho no lúmen apendicular como agente etiológico
de apendicite é um evento muito raro.
Relato de caso: Descrevemos o caso de um paciente masculino de 21 anos com quadro de dor
abdominal baixa há aproximadamente 6 dias, associando-se a vômitos, febre e distensão
abdominal. Após exames de imagem, identificou-se corpo estranho radiopaco em topografia
pélvica, distensão e níveis hidroaéreos em alcas intestinais. Foi submetido a apendicecto-
mia laparotômica, evidenciando-se apendicite aguda perfurada e presenca de dois corpos
estranhos em seu lúmen. Evoluiu de forma satisfatória no pós-operatório, tendo-se feito
uso de antibióticos de largo espectro.
Discussão: Corpos estranhos impactados no trato gastrointestinal são usualmente retirados
por técnicas endoscópicas. Quando provocam quadros infecciosos, deve-se proceder a uma
resolucão cirúrgica, preferencialmente por videolaparoscopia, a qual servirá tanto para fins
diagnósticos quanto terapêuticos.
© 2015 Sociedade Brasileira de Coloproctologia. Publicado por Elsevier Editora Ltda.
Todos os direitos reservados.
Introduction
Appendectomy is the most common emergency surgical pro-cedure worldwide.1 However, these procedures remove upto 28.7% of normal appendices, even with the evolution ofdiagnostic methods. This percentage is even higher in youngwomen.1,2
The ingestion of inedible and indigestible objects is verycommon, especially in younger age groups. In adults, thisoccurs accidentally, or in patients with mental retardation.3
The presence of a foreign body in the appendix, acting as acause of an inflammatory process, is a very rare event.4
We describe a case of acute appendicitis caused by inges-tion of a metal object, which impacted into the appendiceallumen, comparing the conduct taken with a review of theexisting literature on the subject.
Case report
A male patient, 21 years old, was admitted to the generalsurgery emergency department with a 24-h non-irradiatingabdominal pain on the right iliac fossa (RIF), without aggra-vating or mitigating factors, and associated with vomitingepisodes. The patient had no other complaints related to thegastrointestinal tract and with no history of commorbidities,surgery or allergies. The physical examination revealed painon palpation of RIF, but without signs of peritoneal irritation;air-fluid sounds present, with no palpable masses. The patienthad mild leukocytosis (12,600 leukocytes), without presence ofrods. An abdominal ultrasound was performed, which identi-fied two metallic foreign bodies located in the pelvis or rightiliac fossa.
A CT scan of the pelvis confirmed the presence ofradiopaque bodies; we could not determine whether they were
located in the interior of the gastrointestinal tract or in theabdominal cavity (Fig. 1). The patient had his pain symptomsimproved, with normal bowel movements during the first 48 hafter admission, when fled the hospital after 72 h.Fig. 1 – Computed tomography.
The patient returned with worsening of pain symptomsafter 48 h of evasion, now with the addition of bowel bloat-ing and multiple emetic episodes, with peritoneal irritation onphysical examination. A new radiography revealed again thepelvic foreign bodies, plus air-fluid levels in small intestinetopography (Fig. 2).
Surgery was indicated and performed by an exploratorylaparotomy, when an acute appendicitis was identified, withnecrosis and perforation of the vermiform appendix and pres-ence of two metal bodies into its lumen (Figs. 3 and 4); Thus,
a conventional appendectomy was performed.The patient recovered uneventfully in the postoperativeperiod, being treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, and
j coloproctol (rio j). 2 0 1 5;3 5(1):59–62 61
Fig. 2 – Radiography of the abdomen.
Fig. 3 – Vermiform appendix.
Fig. 4 – Appendix and foreign bodies.
was discharged on the 5th postoperative day, with acceptanceof a general diet and with normal bowel habits.
Discussion
The ingestion of foreign bodies is a common phenomenonin clinical practice, especially among children and in adultswith mental retardation;2 in most cases, these are fragmentsof fish or poultry bone, dental prostheses or lead fragments(present in slaughtered poultry products). In general, theirpassage through the gastrointestinal tract is asymptomatic,5
and the presence of complications such as intestinal perfora-tion, abscess or bowel obstruction being a rare event.3,6 Theimpaction of foreign bodies into the appendix is an excep-tional event; acute appendicitis caused by a foreign body hasa prevalence of 0.0005%,2,5 and the latency time between theingestion of the foreign body and the onset of symptomscould be measured in years.7 In our case, the patient does not
remember having taken any metal objects, while admittingthe habit of putting them in the mouth. Generally, these areblunt objects, acting as apendicoliths.j). 2
r
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
2011;16:29–30.9. Schwab D, Baum U, Hahn EG. Colonoscopic treatment of
obstructive appendicitis caused by dislocation of a biliary
62 j coloproctol (rio
There is still controversy about the action to be taken afterthe ingestion of an asymptomatic foreign body. Klinger et al.propose the endoscopic removal of all foreign bodies by uppergastrointestinal endoscopy; if this procedure is not available,the case should be accompanied with serial radiographs andleucograms.8
Colonoscopy should be used to remove stationary objectsin the lower right quadrant of the abdomen for a period of atleast 72 h, even if these objects are asymptomatic.8,9
In fact, thin and pointed impacted objects show agreater propensity to cause symptoms, around 93% of cases;abscesses (88%) or intestinal perforation (70%) are the mostcommon findings. On the other hand, blunt objects may beasymptomatic for long periods, and an incidence of up to 66%of appendicitis in the case of impaction of such objects wasreported.3
If the endoscopic removal failed, a fluoroscopy-guidedlaparoscopy to remove these foreign bodies is indicated.2
The positioning of the appendix in a more caudal loca-tion than the usual may be due to the weight caused by thepresence of both foreign bodies into the lumen; in a way, thiscomplicates the exact location of these objects.
In the case in study, the endoscopic procedure was notattempted, since there was a surgical indication due to theinflammation caused by the foreign bodies. Failure to use alaparoscopic procedure was due to the unavailability of thisprocedure in the period when the patient was seen.
Conflicts of interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
0 1 5;3 5(1):59–62
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